Steven R. McQueen to depart 'The Vampire Diaries'

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Steven R. McQueen will depart The Vampire Diaries.

The 26-year-old actor portrayed Jeremy Gilbert on The CW series for six seasons, and will leave after episode 14. Executive producer Julie Plec announced the news in a statement to Entertainment Weekly on Sunday.

"It's time for him to go out and live his life and we're actually going to say goodbye to Steven R. McQueen as a series regular," she told the magazine. "He's growing up and moving on. He will be out living a real life."

"This year, we realized that Jeremy has truly grown into a man, and as the victim of so much pain at the hands of the supernatural universe, we felt like it was time for him to go out on his own and start a fresh new life -- with a twist," she elaborated to The Hollywood Reporter.

Plec told both publications McQueen may return on future episodes, unless he "finally gets his wish to play a superhero and he's unavailable." The actor previously expressed interest in portraying DC Comics character Nightwing, and there is currently a Titans series in development at TNT.

The Vampire Diaries debuted in September 2009, and was renewed for a seventh season this week. McQueen is also known for playing Kyle Hunter on The WB drama Everwood, and guest starred on Numb3rs, Without a Trace and CSI: Miami.